The Direwolves Hockey Club ("DHC") is an adult co-ed ice hockey club located in Chicago. DHC members are typically novice/recreational level players who love the game of hockey and skate for fun and exercise in our laid back (and yet competitive) games.

DHC hosts two weekly "beginner/novice/recreational" games: A Wednesday evening game from 10:30 to 11:40 pm at American Heartland Ice Arena in Lincolnwood (map) and a Saturday morning game from 7:00 to 8:00 am at North Shore Ice Arena in Northbrook (map).

No – DHC games are perfect for adult hockey players with demanding family, work, and social commitments who are just looking for a friendly game and wish to play as their schedule permits. Members and substitutes choose to register for either or both of our games on a week-by-week basis - we send an online invitation about a week in advance for each game. Members have “first dibs” on spots and have 48 hours to register for each game before the list is opened to substitutes. If a member or sub has to cancel before the game and another standby player takes their spot, the skate fee for that game will be refunded.

Our club operates in two groups – club “Members” who participate most weeks in one or both of our games and “Substitutes” who prefer to fill in for members less frequently as their schedule permits. When new member spots become available they are first offered to current substitute players. To register as a substitute please visit the JOIN DHC page.

Fees for the DHC Wednesday evening game are $13.50 per skater; fees for the DHC Saturday morning game are $19.00 per skater. Goalies play free in both games.

We set our game fees to cover ice rental costs based on expected skater count. Depending on attendance, some weeks we come in a little under… some weeks a little over… however any net proceeds from club activities at the end of each session are donated to Chicago Lights, an anti-poverty focused non-profit providing hope to the city’s children, youth, and adults via six unique outreach programs. For more information on Chicago Lights please click here to be taken to their website.

Although we play no check/contact games, a full set of ice hockey equipment is required including the following: skates, shin guards, athletic cup, hockey pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, and helmet. Oh, and a hockey stick. DHC strongly recommends that skaters wear a “full cage” helmet and those that choose not to do so at their own risk as defined in the Waiver of Liability that each player signs.

The only requirement is that players must be 18 years of age to play. Our current members range in age from “low 20s” to “above 60” and we encourage any adult player interested a friendly, laid back, and competitive game of ice hockey to register with us.

As DHC is a novice/recreational club, most of our players are new to the sport of ice hockey, play only occasionally for exercise and fun, or previously played at a more competitive level and are now just looking for a relaxing skate. Approximately 80% of our players would play at a “D” league level. The few higher skill level players who play with us do so for fun and tend to “play down” a level.

Guests are welcomed (and encouraged) to attend as spectators, however to control our registration process and to cap the number of players to ensure fair and generous ice time for each skater… anyone wishing to have a friend/guest participate in a DHC game with them will need their guest to register as a substitute and secure their own spot on the lineup.

Teams are formed just prior to each game and games are played “rat hockey” style (i.e. one player takes the ice when another skates off for a break). Each skater is required to bring a light and dark jersey to each game so that teams can be balanced (and adjusted as needed) to ensure competitive play. We place great emphasis on skill level parity and will rebalance the teams mid-game if needed.

We have several players that are more comfortable with one position over another and this is not usually a problem. We’re a very friendly and accommodating group, so if you prefer to play only forward or defense just say so and another player will typically switch up or back when you take the ice. However… DHC does believe that for those new to the sport a "rat hockey" system of one on / one off is a great way to develop skills by playing all positions. This allows the novice player to focus on shooting, skating backwards, and other skills they might miss by playing only forward or defense.

At DHC games we serve as our own refs – the benches will call offsides/penalties and enforce fair shift times to ensure a fun, fair, and competitive game. As noted in the rules and regulations, any member or sub who violates the strict no-tolerance policy regarding checking/fighting or any type of unsportsmanlike conduct will be expelled from the game immediately and will not be invited back.

Additionally… to maximize ice time per player we play a non-stop game for the full amount of ice time. We’ll pause to switch goalies either halfway through or if the goal differential gets too high, but otherwise we strive for continuous play.